about the storm
washing away the circus tents. So she asked the little girl to explain.

"Why, Bunker Blue said," Sue told her mother, "that if the storm was too
hard, the brook would get full of water, and wash away our circus tents.
And I don't want that, 'cause me and Bunny is going to do an act, only
it's a secret and I can't tell you. Only--Oh, dear!" cried Sue, as she
saw a very bright flash of lightning. "It's going to bang again!"

"But you musn't be afraid of the storm," said Mother Brown. "See, Bunny
isn't afraid!"

"Yes, I _is_ afraid too!" cried the little boy, who slept in the next
room. "I _is_ afraid, but I wasn't goin' to tell!"

"Well, that's being brave--not to show that you are afraid," said Mother
Brown. "Come now, Sue, you be brave, like Bunny."

"But I can't, Mother! I don't want the circus to be spoiled!"

"Oh, I guess the tents are good and strong," said Mr. Brown, who had
gotten up to see what Sue was crying for. "They won't blow away."

It was about eleven o'clock at night, and quite dark, except when the
lightning came. Then the loud thunder would sound, "just like circus
wagons rumbling over a bridge," as Bunny told Sue, to try and make his
little sister feel less afraid.

But all Sue could talk of was the circus tents, that might be blown over
by the strong wind, which was now rattling the shutters and windows of
the farmhouse. Or else the white canvas houses might be washed away by
the high water.

While Mr. and Mrs. Brown sat up, trying to comfort Sue, by telling her
and Bunny a fairy story, there were sounds heard in another part of the
house.

"I guess that's Grandpa Brown getting up to see if his cows and horses
are all right," said mother. "The cows and horses are not afraid in a
storm, Sue."

"Maybe they are, but they can't talk and tell us about it," said Sue,
who was not quite so frightened now.

Grandpa Brown could be heard speaking to some one in the hall.

"Hello, Bunker Blue," he called, "is that you getting up?"

"Yes, Mr. Brown," was the answer the children heard.

"And who is that with you?"

"Ben Hall."

"What are you going to do?" Bunny Brown heard his grandpa ask.

"We're going down to see about our circus tents," said Bunker. "We're
afraid they may be carried away in the storm."

"Well, perhaps they may," said Grandpa Brown. "It's a bad storm all
right, but we'll be safe and comfortable in the house. Take a lantern
with you, if you're going out, a